The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was vandalized on Thursday.
“Bright pink spray paint reading ‘Clean hands, dirty money’ was found scrawled across the hallowed National Mall memorial,” Fox News wrote.
“The memorial’s fountain was also tampered with, overflowing with bubbles, prompting U.S. Park Police to block off the area as they investigated,” it added.
“The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,” the Interior Department stated.
WWII MEMORIAL DEFACED: Bright pink spray paint reading “Clean hands, dirty money” was found scrawled across the hallowed National Mall memorial on Thursday.
The memorial’s fountain was also tampered with, overflowing with bubbles, prompting U.S. Park Police to block off the area… pic.twitter.com/ib8SOWDQAC
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 14, 2026
Fox News shared further:
An Army veteran who arrived at the memorial told Fox News Digital she was looking forward to seeing it and was “offended” by the act of vandalism.
“It just makes me absolutely irate,” Debra Mortensen said. “I was offended because people fought and died for our country, and it’s dishonoring our country and all we’ve been through.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Park Police and the National Park Service. No information about a potential suspect was released.
In 2016, the memorial was vandalized by someone protesting the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. A vandal spray-painted the North Dakota section of the memorial with the phrase “#NoDAPL.”
Watch footage of the foam pouring from the pool below:
BREAKING ⚠️ Foam is pouring from the Rainbow Pool at the WWII Memorial in DC. Graffiti reportedly visible nearby. Cause and responsibility unclear. NPS is asking visitors to stay out of the water.
Watch the full video on Citizen. pic.twitter.com/HofyQ1DebK
— Citizen (@CitizenApp) August 13, 2026
Journalist Nick Sortor said the area was locked down.
Check it out:
🚨 BREAKING: The WWII Memorial in DC is now a CRIME SCENE, LOCKED DOWN by National Guard after vandals spray painted and poured chemicals into the water
ALL because the left is upset about President Trump beautifying our capital
These people HATE OUR COUNTRY.
Make an EXAMPLE… pic.twitter.com/BUrqvAt8oN
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 14, 2026
More from the New York Post:
“It’s kind of shocking for us to see that,” DC resident Ahmed Cisse told The Post — as Park Police crime scene tape secured the site.
“It’s really sad. It’s really sad to see that we can’t even experience it,” said a woman named Priscilla who was visiting from New Jersey.
“Ah geez, that’s sh—y,” exclaimed a male passerby.
Interior Department spokesman Cody Sargent condemned the “disgusting vandalism from deranged losers.”
“It’s pathetic to deface a memorial to our WWII heroes,” Sargent wrote on X.
“Thankfully, I know our incredible [National Park Service] will get this cleaned up for the majority of Americans who love our country.”
The Interior Department later vowed to “find the person responsible for this disgusting act.”
The incident followed alleged vandalism to the new swimming pool liner coating the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Watch additional coverage below:
